Popcorn Spectacel

Rating: 1/10 (12 May 2007)

The Longest Day is popcorn entertainment, no critical analysis of what was going on. Nevertheless the movie gave that what the audience wanted. Movies are made for the box-office not for the critics. The directors developed some trouble to show both sides and one has to admit that in 1962 it was too close after the war to make a balanced film about the events. Who cares? At that time nobody in Germany would have raised a voice to put up a brave front. I read a lot about D-day and I visited the historic sites and find that the film shows the major lines about the day, but not really more, because even the details are not for real. The average soldier is anonymous besides the big shots" (double meaning) . Well, you have to stay with the victors to have an idea about the purpose of it all. The movie was expensive and filled up with many stars of the time, but is it good? The answer is no as for a historical accuracy. The representation of the German side is simple and incorrect, as if it would not mater at all what was going on on this side.
It is shown the invasion from the viewpoint of the Allies. Therefore it is one sided. In retroperspective of a winner there is a lot that is stereotyped. The Longest Day suffers from the "Hollywood" treatment of historical events. Some characters are obviously composites; Richard Burton's Flight Officer David Campbell and Eddie Albert's Col. Newton are nowhere to be seen in Ryan's original book, while others (Jeff Hunter's doomed Sgt. Fuller) are clearly fictitious.
There are also some unexplainable errors, such as having American paratroopers jumping from British Lancaster bombers, showing how close they worked together as only brethren can do. Again nobody cares. In most parts the film is just a spectacle of no significance, a rowing of episodes, patriotic, heroic  the reality was different. No heroism at all, but the accomplishment of desperation on both sides. I heard original reports of participiants from both sides. They know what happened. This movie shows not much of it. Therefore I say much money invested, many stars exerted  for another Hollywood Popcorn flubdub.